The technological goal of Idem Esse is to achieve a mirror- image type encounter between a puppeteer and a puppet who are digitally united. Full body motion capture, enabling hands-free movement is a technology regularly used to animate virtual avatars. Regardless of the numerous possibilities afforded by synthesized imagery there is limited control over the image, even in virtual reality. Rendering a consistent image of a real-life digital character with articulated mechanical parts which could respond to the puppeteer's actions presented a monumental challenge.

The mechatronic team, led by Patrick Lessard, was formed in 2003. Research and development on the first prototype continued up to the creation of Idem Esse in 2006. The puppet is composed of an aluminum structure with pneumatic muscles which inflate with air when kinetic data is transmitted from four magnetic sensors positioned on the pupeteer's head, wrist, elbow and shoulder.